Welcome to Piazza Palermo

The cost of living and working in Downtown San Diego is a frequent topic of conversation, and this week, we have a direct opportunity to influence a policy that affects us all.

On Thursday, April 16th, the City’s Economic Development & Intergovernmental Relations Committee will meet to discuss modifying the current $10/hour Special Event Parking rate. This rate, while intended to manage traffic during events, has had significant unintended consequences for those of us who call Downtown home.

Why This Matters to Residents

While event parking is often associated with tourists, the current “Special Event Zone” is broad. It often impacts residents’ guests, service providers, and the local businesses we frequent. The Downtown San Diego Partnership and other local organizations are pushing for a reduction and modification of these rates for several key reasons:

• Deterring Local Access: High rates discourage friends and family from visiting and make it harder for downtown workers to commute.
• Economic Impact: When parking costs triple, visitors spend less at our neighborhood restaurants and shops, threatening the vitality of the small businesses that make our community unique.
• Broad Boundaries: The current zone extends beyond the immediate event areas, unnecessarily burdening residential blocks and displacing event traffic further into our neighborhoods.

How You Can Participate

The City Council needs to hear from residents—not just lobbyists—to understand the real-world impact of these parking fees.

• When: Thursday, April 16th, at 9:00 a.m.
• Where: City Council Chambers, 202 C Street, 12th Floor.
• Action: Fill out a green “support” speaker slip (to support modifying the rates) upon arrival. Speakers are typically given one minute to share their perspective.

Can’t Make it in Person?

A virtual participation option will be available once the official agenda is posted. If you have specific questions about the proposal, you can contact Justine Murray, VP of Government Affairs for the Downtown San Diego Partnership, at jmurray@downtownsandiego.org.

Let’s ensure our neighborhood remains accessible and thriving. Whether you speak in person or submit a comment, your voice helps shape the future of our Downtown.

Is your home ready for the upcoming summer heat? Many of our neighbors are currently running original HVAC units that are over 22 years old. While they might still be running, systems of this age are often inefficient, noisy, and prone to breaking down right when the temperature peaks.

Upgrading your system now ensures your comfort and leads to significant long-term savings. Modern high-efficiency systems can be up to 40% more energy-efficient than those from two decades ago, meaning much lower monthly utility bills.

Stack Your Savings with SDG&E Rebates

Beyond energy savings, you can significantly reduce your upfront costs by taking advantage of current incentives from SDG&E:

Smart Thermostat Rebates: You may be eligible for rebates and coupons to upgrade your home with a smart thermostat.
Explore All Options: Visit the SDG&E Rebate Center https://www.sdge.com/rebates#:~:text=Energy%20Savings%20for%20the%20Golden,coupon%20as%20a%20promo%20code).to find available savings on everything from smart controllers to energy-efficient appliances.

Special Community Offer: Rally Together and Save!

Flite Mechanical is offering a special group discount for our neighborhood to help everyone stay cool while keeping costs down. If 20 or more units rally together for an installation, we can secure significantly lower pricing. Please contact them at (619) 780-1104 or email mstecker@flitemechanical.com.

Based on the attached estimates from Flite Mechanical, here is the breakdown of the standard vs. group discount pricing:

Group pricing includes installation labor, materials, and San Diego sales tax (7.75%).

Important Note on Installation: Please be aware that according to our community’s Architectural Guidelines, any new installations or changes to originally installed HVAC equipment require the prior approval of the Board of Directors. Homeowners must submit a complete Architectural Submittal Package and receive written approval before any work begins.

Real Estate Rules:

REALTOR RULES

• Homeowners must notify Management that the residence has been listed for sale.

• Lock boxes must be labeled with contact information for the listing agent or Owner if there is no listing agent.

• Lock boxes can only be placed in the Front Street stairwell exit corridor. If lockboxes are found placed in or on any other location within Piazza Palermo, the lock box will be removed without notification.

• Open houses are prohibited. No flags, banners, balloons, etc., may be displayed on the common area or any other unit owned by another without their consent. For sale signs (no larger than 4’ by 4’) are allowed to be placed in the individual Owner’s window. No flyers may be distributed to individual residents’ doors or placed on vehicle windshields.

RENTAL OF RESIDENTIAL UNIT

• An Owner shall be entitled to rent the Condominium subject to the restrictions contained in the Declaration. Owners are required to notify the Association each time the unit is rented to a new tenant. Any rental or lease agreement shall be in writing, shall provide that the lease is subject to the Governing Documents and shall provide that any failure to comply with any provisions of the Governing Documents shall be a default under the terms of the rental or lease agreement. A copy of the rental or lease agreement shall, upon request, be provided to the Association.

RESIDENTIAL USE ONLY

Residences shall be used for residential purposes only: provided, however, that any Residence may be used incidentally for the purpose of operating a home based small business if, and only if, the business is operated solely within the Residence,

• the business is limited to arts and crafts, the rendition of professional services, or other similar activities.
• the business is operated by the Owner of the Residence whose principal residence is the Residence, by a tenant whose principal residence is the Residence or by a member of such Owner’s or tenant’s family whose principal residence is the Residence.
• the operation of the business is permitted by, and is at all times in compliance with, all applicable laws, and
• the operation of the business does not result in (i) the violation of any of the other provisions of the Declaration, (ii) any unreasonable increase in the flow of traffic within the Project, (iii) any odor, noise, or vibration outside of the Residence, or (iv) parking problems within the Project.
• No other use shall be allowed except as specifically permitted by local ordinance; provided, however. Declarant may use any of the Residences owned by Declarant as model homes, sales offices, construction offices or storage for the Project during that period of time commencing when the Residences are first sold or offered for sale to the public and ending when (x) all the Residences in the Project are sold and conveyed by Declarant to separate Owners thereof, or (y) seven (7) years after the first close of escrow of a Residence in the Project whichever shall first occur.

TIME SHARING

• A Condominium may not be divided or conveyed on a time increment basis (commonly referred to as “time sharing”) of measurable chronological periods. The term “time sharing” as used herein shall be defined to include, but shall not be limited to, any agreement, plan, program or arrangement under which the right to use occupy or possess the Condominium, Condominiums, or any portion thereof in the Project rotates among various persons, either corporate partnership, individual or otherwise, on a periodically recurring basis for value exchanged, whether monetary or like-kind use privileges, according to a fixed or floating interval or period of time sixty (60) consecutive calendar days or less.

Vendor & Contractor Policy Requirements

Owners are required to provide a copy of the Vendor Policy to their contractor prior to job commencement. It is the Owner’s responsibility to monitor the contractor working in the Residential Unit to ensure compliance.

Insurance and Contractor’s License:

Each Owner shall ensure that all contractors, subcontractors, or any other person or entity who/which performs work on Association Property or a Residential Unit shall provide proof of insurance, proof of valid worker’s compensation insurance, and an active California State Contractors License to Management for the work that they are contracted to do. Insurance policies shall be endorsed naming Piazza Palermo Owners Association as additional insured for the period of time the work is in progress. Policies shall contain a waiver of subrogation in favor of Piazza Palermo Owners Association. Owners must ensure that contractors do not have exclusions in their insurance policies to do the work they are contracted to do in condominiums.

Registration of Work:

All contractors, subcontractors, or any other persons who perform work on or within Association Property or a Residential Unit shall provide notice to Management of the scheduled service at least 24 hours prior. Management has the right to accompany the person or persons performing the work and take photographs of the conditions of the Common Areas and Association Property on the commencement of work and after completion.

Damage:

Any damage caused by contractors or sub-contractors to any Common Area, Association Property or Residential Units is the Owner’s responsibility. Damage must be reported immediately to Management. The Owner will be held liable for the actions of his/her contractors, subcontractors, and/or workers, and the Owner will be responsible for all costs incurred by the Association due to the damage caused.

Protecting Floor Areas, Common Areas, Hallways, and Elevators:

Elevator #4 must be protected with padding during any work by an Owner, which requires transport of materials to and from the Residential Unit. Owners must notify Management at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled work.

Trash and Debris:

All trash and debris must be carried off-site on a daily basis. Debris found in common areas from work done by an Owner’s contractor must be removed by the contractor/Owner.

Plumbing:

All plumbers servicing clogged drains must possess an auger or roto-rooter that is at least 75 feet long to clear the stoppage out to the horizontal main line.

Water Shutdowns:

Every Residential Unit has a water shutdown for the cold and hot water supply to the Residential Unit. Shut-downs are generally located in the ceiling of the linen closet in some Residential Units or above the kitchen cabinets in others. Common Area shut-downs required to repair plumbing in the Residential Unit must be coordinated with Management during business hours. Owners are responsible for costs related to services provided by Association staff.

Working Hours:

Working hours are limited to Monday through Friday, between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. No work is allowed on weekends or on the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Workers may access the building 30 minutes before “working hours,” but may not make any disruptive noise outside of “working hours.” Work that is not disruptive to others by noise, vibrations, or odors (e.g., painting) is not subject to the limitations set forth under “working hours” but requires prior approval by Management. Emergency work is not subject to the limitations set forth under “working hours” but will require prior approval by Management.

Conduct by Workers:

Workers shall exhibit proper behavior and shall show respect towards other residents of the Community. Workers are prohibited from creating nuisance noise unrelated to the construction work. Workers are also prohibited from eating meals or taking breaks in the Common Areas or Association Property. Workers must perform work such as carpet cutting and tile cutting in the unit or off-site.

Stopping Work:

The Association has the right to stop work that is in violation of these regulations, creates a fire or safety hazard, or interferes with activities within the Community.

Fire Safety Devices:

No one shall remove any permanent smoke detectors, sprinklers, security speakers or fire safety devices anywhere in or about a Residential Unit, Common Area, or Association Property. If spray paint, sanding, or any other work that could potentially set off the smoke detectors or fire sprinklers will be performed, it is permissible to cover the smoke detectors and/or fire sprinklers with plastic (and no other material), but the plastic must be removed at the end of each day. Fire exits may not be blocked at any time.

Equipment:

Contractors must use their own equipment. The use of Common Area utilities, Association tools, and equipment is prohibited. Workers are also prohibited from using their equipment in the parking areas, garage, or other Common Area. The Association is not responsible for the disappearance of any tools, equipment, or materials left in the Common Area or Association Property.

Minimizing Dirt, Etc.:

The front door of each Residential Unit must be kept closed during construction in order to contain dust, dirt, noise, paint fumes, etc.

Owner Responsibility:

Each Owner is responsible for any violations by such Owner’s contractor or subcontractors of the Architectural Guidelines, the Rules and Regulations, and the Governing Documents.

Contractors and Subcontractors Information:

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of all contractors and subcontractors who will work on the property must be registered and provided before job commencement.